Incident Details
The pilot of an airplane was completing a cross-country flight and preparing to land at a private airport. During the landing flare, just prior to touchdown, a small deer entered the runway and moved toward the aircraft.
Pilot Actions
Upon seeing the deer, the pilot increased engine power and attempted to climb. However, the deer struck the left horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to that component. The pilot then reduced engine power and landed the airplane on the runway without any additional issues.
Aircraft Damage
The left horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage from the impact with the deer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.